[rant]

PHBeerman · Post by **PHBeerman** » December 30, 2004 8:00 pm

Ok, I was just watching the news and all I hear is how the US should give more money, more money, more money............ Why is it that everyone thinks we are the bad guys until they need our cash???? I am all for humanitarian relief, but when those that we help turn around and stab us in the back, I get just a little pi$$ed!!!!

[/rant]

IsleReef · Post by **IsleReef** » December 30, 2004 8:13 pm

I'm with ya dude 100%............ Aside from some countries who are with us, there were alot more who did not give a rats ass about the United States on 9/11...........

bananaman · Post by **bananaman** » December 30, 2004 8:45 pm

Did some research into who gives the most aid to countries in need around the world. USA ranks second only to Japan. We budget around 10 BILLION every year for aid. Japan budgets around 13 billion. Just thought you might like to know.

Lastplaneout · Post by **Lastplaneout** » December 30, 2004 8:47 pm

It's still ridiculous us getting bashed by the countries that want our money. Not saying that we aren't here to help..but damn

captainjoe · Post by **captainjoe** » December 30, 2004 9:04 pm

Where do we rank when it is compared to our GDP? It has been a while, but I think we are near the bottom when compared to what different governments bring in every year.

bravedave · Post by **bravedave** » December 30, 2004 9:18 pm

captainjoe wrote:Where do we rank when it is compared to our GDP? It has been a while, but I think we are near the bottom when compared to what different governments bring in every year.

As far as contributing to needs around the globe, we do great work.
But don’t be too quick to pat yourself on the back.
We don't even rank in the top ten. I’d love to be in single digits, myself.

United States
Population: 293,027,571
Gross Domestic Product: $10.99 trillion
per capita GDP: $37,800

Japan
Population: 127,333,002
Gross Domestic Product: $3.582 trillion
per capita GDP: $28,200

(source: CIA World FactBook)

bananaman · Post by **bananaman** » December 30, 2004 9:31 pm

According to my numbers:

USA-.15% of GNP is donated.

Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands top the list with around 1.0% of their GNP.

tikitatas · Post by **tikitatas** » December 30, 2004 11:05 pm

Dear God, some of you . . .

What's to COMPARE? People died. People lost their loved ones in a heartbeat. Their homes are gone. Illness and death are breeding as you nitpick about GNPs/

Where are your BN hearts? May we all give all we can to the relief efforts and not ask for recognition.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » December 31, 2004 9:48 am

Cate...I'm not sure that's Troy's point. I think it's discouraging that the US is looking like "bad people" in the media because it's not enough..it's not enough...it's not enough.

It's a God awful trajedy what happened but I think it's a shame the first thing that happens is finger pointing to the US that we're not doing enough to fix it fast enough.

Without speaking for all of us, I'd venture to guess that MOST of us will help out with the relief in one way or another whether directly or indirectly. But it's downright preposterous to hear in the media that we're not doing enough.

I don't think anyone is asking for recognition...we're asking for the finger not to be pointed directly at us and let those good U.S. (and BN) hearts show through.

JM VERY HO

-Mal

PHBeerman · Post by **PHBeerman** » December 31, 2004 9:52 am

buffettbride wrote:Cate...I'm not sure that's Troy's point. I think it's discouraging that the US is looking like "bad people" in the media because it's not enough..it's not enough...it's not enough.

It's a God awful trajedy what happened but I think it's a shame the first thing that happens is finger pointing to the US that we're not doing enough to fix it fast enough.

Without speaking for all of us, I'd venture to guess that MOST of us will help out with the relief in one way or another whether directly or indirectly. But it's downright preposterous to hear in the media that we're not doing enough.

I don't think anyone is asking for recognition...we're asking for the finger not to be pointed directly at us and let those good U.S. (and BN) hearts show through.

JM VERY HO

-Mal

Thanks Mal. That is exactly what my point is. I think we should be giving these people as much as we can. But what the media is not saying is that while other nations are giving relief in the form of loans, our relief is not. Yet still we are the bad guys.

RAGTOP · Post by **RAGTOP** » December 31, 2004 9:55 am

I'm actually quite surprised the tsunami hasn't been blamed on President Bush yet

12vmanRick · Post by **12vmanRick** » December 31, 2004 9:57 am

RAGTOP wrote:I'm actually quite surprised the tsunami hasn't been blamed on President Bush yet

no s***!

kurt · Post by **kurt** » December 31, 2004 10:02 am

It IS that damn media... God I had to shut it off the other day b/c they were just harping on what WE should do... WE DO help a lot of people around the world!!! You just can't mobilize a fleet of ships and drop money phrom the sky within 24 hours! Remember, the first reports said that there were (only) 2000 dead. People need to focus on the living now and how to reach the people.

12vmanRick · Post by **12vmanRick** » December 31, 2004 10:05 am

kurt wrote:It IS that damn media... God I had to shut it off the other day b/c they were just harping on what WE should do... WE DO help a lot of people around the world!!! You just can't mobilize a fleet of ships and drop money phrom the sky within 24 hours! Remember, the first reports said that there were (only) 2000 dead. People need to focus on the living now and how to reach the people.

Hey Kurt.. my wife and I used Cheapcarribean to go to Mexico. They had us in a fantastic place!!!!! I hope Aruba works out well for ya

CaptainP · Post by **CaptainP** » December 31, 2004 10:06 am

RAGTOP wrote:I'm actually quite surprised the tsunami hasn't been blamed on President Bush yet

I'm quite surprised Al Quada has taken responsibility yet.

kurt · Post by **kurt** » December 31, 2004 10:10 am

12vmanRick wrote:
kurt wrote:It IS that damn media... God I had to shut it off the other day b/c they were just harping on what WE should do... WE DO help a lot of people around the world!!! You just can't mobilize a fleet of ships and drop money phrom the sky within 24 hours! Remember, the first reports said that there were (only) 2000 dead. People need to focus on the living now and how to reach the people.
Hey Kurt.. my wife and I used Cheapcarribean to go to Mexico. They had us in a fantastic place!!!!! I hope Aruba works out well for ya

Thanks Rick - hope that Harley is not mothballed phor the winter!// 60 degrees 4 today in Maryland

PHBeerman · Post by **PHBeerman** » December 31, 2004 10:13 am

RAGTOP wrote:I'm actually quite surprised the tsunami hasn't been blamed on President Bush yet

The media basically has blamed him. Since he did not do a knee jerk money drop, he is a bad person. I love it when the left turns death into a political issue.

CaptainP · Post by **CaptainP** » December 31, 2004 10:36 am

PHBeerman wrote:
RAGTOP wrote:I'm actually quite surprised the tsunami hasn't been blamed on President Bush yet
The media basically has blamed him. Since he did not do a knee jerk money drop, he is a bad person. I love it when the left turns death into a political issue.

Be fair. If a demmycrat was in office, the right would have done the same. It's just politics.

Ilph · Post by **Ilph** » December 31, 2004 10:43 am

I was talking to my friend's dad who is a diplomat. He just returned from a three year stint in Turkministan and leaves next week for three years in Spain. He said it's amazing how much the USA does overseas that never gets reported on. He was telling me stories of how the US Embassy sets up thousands of foreign exchange students every year and in countries that are trying to build an effective military, the USA brings some of their soldiers to America so they can view how our system is set up so they can use it as a model. He listed about ten different things like that that happen on a regular basis, but we never hear about it over here. Sad.

kurt · Post by **kurt** » December 31, 2004 10:46 am

Ilph wrote: He was telling me stories of how the US Embassy sets up thousands of foreign exchange students every year and in countries that are trying to build an effective military, the USA brings some of their soldiers to America so they can view how our system is set up so they can use it as a model. He listed about ten different things like that that happen on a regular basis, but we never hear about it over here.

You don't know how true that is...